Nakuru governor candidate Susan Kihika of UDA arrived at Ngomongo polling station in Bahati constituency to cast her vote early on Tuesday.
Senator Kihika, who arrived shortly before 6am, expressed satisfaction with the big turnout.
"I'm happy to exercise my democratic right as a Kenyan and I'm also impressed Kenyans woke up early to vote for their leaders," she said.
The candidate said she had no reason to stay behind and vote during the day.
"There was no reason to wait because I was excited and wanted to join the Kenyans who woke up early to vote. I'm glad the day is finally here and we thank God for the journey," she said.
Kihika is in the race to succeed Governor Lee Kinyanjui who is defending his seat on a Jubilee ticket.
She got a direct ticket as she had no UDA rivals.
The candidate has been accompanying UDA presidential candidate Deputy President William Ruto in campaigns across the country.
She has been among the key politicians the DP is relying on to sell UDA’s agenda.
In 2013, she contested the Bahati parliamentary seat but lost.
Kihika then went on to defeat a field of seven opponents, to emerge as the first Nakuru assembly speaker.
In 2017, the former speaker made her debut in the 12th Parliament after she garnered 637,700 votes in the Nakuru senatorial race.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
